An interior designer from Bukit Mertajam has lost RM794,000 after falling victim to an online investment syndicate. Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad stated that the 47-year-old woman lodged a report with the Commercial Crime Investigation Division at the Seberang Perai Tengah district police headquarters on Monday, alleging she had been defrauded by a syndicate identified as ‘Csecdt’.
“In early April 2025, the victim claimed to have seen a high-return investment, advertised on Facebook and she contacted the suspect, a woman via the Whatsapp. Through the investment scheme, the victim was promised a 100 per cent profit for each capital sum invested within a short period of time,” Hamzah explained in a statement.
He detailed that, convinced by the promises, the victim was instructed to download the ‘Csecdt’ application to register as a member and commence her investment. Subsequently, she made seven money transfers into seven different bank accounts belonging to various companies, between 11 April and 3 June.
Hamzah reported, “The victim first realised she had been cheated when she wanted to withdraw profits amounting to RM2 million but she was instead asked to pay a withdrawal tax of RM200,000 first, and decided to lodge a police report.”
Investigations are ongoing and the case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.